As a teacher, I agree with this article that the long summer break allows students time to forget some of what they've learned during the school year. However, I don't know where the author gets his information about schools being comfortable during the summer, but I teach in 3 different schools during the school year, and in 2 others during summer school, and none of them are air-conditioned. Last week it was 95 degrees every day, making the rooms as unbearable as they were in the early 1900's. Until air conditioning becomes a requirement, year 'round school should not be allowed.

I agree. It's very uncomfortable. I've taught summer school before and it's miserable.

In every (public) school I attended, many classes were held in "portables" - makeshift classroom trailers set up out on the playing fields. These buildings were like ovens during the hot days of the Southern California years (i.e., often).

These buildings still seem to be in use at all but the newest schools here in Los Angeles. Maybe they've all received air-conditioning within the last twelve years, but somehow I doubt it.

Only school buildings that can be kept below a certain temperature are allowed to be used in the summertime. And only buildings that can be kept above a certain temperature allowed to be used in the wintertime. The details of following this rule to be left to the schools themselves.